In this episode of the Cruise Control podcast, host Kevin Davis is joined by Jason Otterness and Eric Joseph at WCFT Window Auto Glass Week. They dive into their journey within the detailing industry, discussing entrepreneurship, their companies (Car Supplies Warehouse, Optical Films, Detailwise), and their growth strategies. The conversation covers the challenges and rewards of starting product companies, running detailing businesses, and the importance of building a community around their ventures. They also touch on the value of constant learning, the necessity of strategic problem-solving, and balancing creativity with practicality in business.
Key Takeaways:
Entrepreneurship in Detailing:
Both Jason and Eric transitioned from detailing services to creating product companies like Car Supplies Warehouse and Optical Films. They emphasize the passion-driven nature of detailing, with Jason noting how lucky he feels to have found something fulfilling early in life.
Kevin highlights that the entrepreneurial journey often involves trying multiple ventures, learning from mistakes, and continuously evolving.
Scaling Challenges:
The detailing business, being labor-intensive, is challenging to scale. The team explored e-commerce and product development as solutions to these limitations.
Optical Films emerged from the need to support shops with quality products, and they developed the brand through partnerships with manufacturers to create innovative film solutions.
Value of Community & Training:
Both guests stressed the importance of building a community around their products, offering free training to customers to ensure success in using the products. Training is seen as essential, not just in technical aspects but also in running the business itself.
They also discussed creating educational content through UA-cam and providing mentorship to other business owners.
Problem Solving & Strategic Thinking:
Jason considers himself a "strategic problem solver," who enjoys working behind the scenes to ensure things run smoothly in the face of new challenges. His role in balancing creativity with practicality is vital to their ventures’ success.
Product Development & Innovation:
The team emphasizes the hard work behind developing new products like Optical Films, where they focus on constant research and innovation. They believe that their experience as installers helps them develop products that meet industry needs.
They stress that the best product companies come from real-world experience, addressing problems they faced themselves.
Business Advice:
Jason advises that if you can't fit a business plan or process on a single page, it’s too complex and likely not executable. Simplicity is key to operational success.
Eric advises continuous learning and resilience, explaining that business failures are inevitable, but each challenge provides an opportunity for growth.
This episode provides practical insights into scaling a detailing business, fostering community, and the importance of adaptability and constant learning in entrepreneurship.
Find out more: www.carsupplieswarehouse.com.
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